Cigarette case



Dec. 20, 1938. P. J. DESSELLE 30 CIGARETTE CASE Filed May 17, 1937 Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to cigarette cases, and its principal object is to provide a case which may be manipulated with one hand both to open and close it.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cigarette case which is constructed of such a balanced design that it will stand erect upon a table either in the opened or closed position.

A further object of my said invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which is simple in construction, strong and durable, and which may be manufactured cheaply by modern production methods.

With these and other objects in view, I will now describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the cigarette case in open position, illustrating the manner of its manual operation.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same in closed position.

Figure 3 is a front elevation with the main cover removed.

Figure 4 is an underside View showing the construction of the main hinge together with the resilient means for closing it, and

Figure 5 is a top view showing the arrangement of the thumb-piece by which its operation is facilitated.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing, I designates the body having a back portion l l, a bottom portion l2, and sides 13. Fitting closely within the body is a holder 2 having a back 2! in alignment with the portion II and having a transverse front guard member 22 connected to the back by side members 23, the inner dimensions of the enclosure so formed being such as to contain one package, or twenty, cigarettes C. Hinged to the body I at I4 is the main cover 3 of open box shape having tapered sides 31, as shown. Upon the hinge pin I4 is a double coil spring l5 which tends at all times to move the main cover into the closed position. Pivoted to the holder at 24 is an auxiliary cover 4 having a back portion 4|, a top member 42, and side members 43, the edges of the latter being tapered to the same angle as the edges of the main cover, so that when the main and auxiliary covers are in the closed position, their edges will meet upon the line A in Figure 2.

Upon the lower end of the auxiliary cover 4 are a pair of cam-like members 44 having inturned edges 45, the extreme ends 46 of which abut upon the inner surface of the main cover 3 in such manner that when the case is held in the hand as shown in Figure 1 and the auxiliary cover moved backward into the open position as therein shown, the ends 46 of the members 44 will exert a cam-like action upon the main cover so as to move it into the open position. When the covers are in the open position as shown in Figure 1, the cam members 46 are in substantially .a dead center position, so that closing of the main cover under the action of the spring I5 is prevented and the case will so remain when stood upon a table. When, however, the main cover 3 is pressed inwards by the fingers. to a slight extent, the remainder of the closing movement will be performed by the said, spring.

It will be observed that the ends 46 which abut upon the main cover 3 are slightly rounded so as to obviate excessive friction and wear of the parts, and in order to obtain an effective grip of the thumb upon the auxiliary cover 4, I provide a thumb-piece 41 having a serrated outer surface as shown in Figure 5. In order to make room for this thumb-piece, I may construct the top member 42 of convex arcuate form as shown at 4-2! in Figure 5, the complementary top member 32 of the main cover being made of concave arcuate form so that the two members fit closely together in order to provide a tight joint.

While I have herein described and shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the same relates that various modifications may be made to suit any particular or peculiar requirement Without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, I may make my improved case of larger dimensions so ,as to accommodate cigars instead of cigarettes.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the character described comprising two hingedly connected sections, the first of which contains the cigarettes while the second forms a half cover for the upper end, spring means yieldingly holding the said sections in closed position, and a third section pivoted to the container section intermediate its length and adapted to co-act with the second section to completely enclose the cigarettes, the said third section being provided with manual gripping means and with lever means for moving the second section into open position against the action of said spring means.

2. A device of the character described comprising two hingedly connected sections, the first of which contains the cigarettes while the second forms a half cover for the upper end, spring means yieldingly holding the said sections in closed position, and a third section intermediate its length and adapted to co-act with the second section to completely enclose the cigarettes, the said third section being provided with manual gripping means and with lever means for moving the second section into open position against the action of said spring means, the said lever means being so arranged as to present a dead center condition when the parts are in the open position.

3. A device of the character described comprising a main body having a back portion, a bottom portion and sides; a cigarette container having a back portion and a transverse front portion connected by side members, the lower part of said container fitting closely within the said body; a main cover hinged to the lower edge of said body and having resilient means normally holding it in closed position; and an auxiliary cover pivoted to said container exteriorly thereof intermediate its ends, the said auxiliary cover being provided with manual gripping means upon its upper edge and with lever means for moving the main cover into open position against the action of said spring means.

4. A device of the character described comprising a main body having a back portion, a bottom portion and sides; a cigarette container having a back portion and a transverse front portion connected by side members, the lower part of said container fitting closely within the said body; a main cover hinged to the lower edge of said body and having resilient means normally holding it in closed position; and an auxiliary cover pivoted to said container exteriorly thereof intermediate its ends, the said auxiliary cover being provided with manual gripping means upon its upper edge and with lever means for moving the main cover into open position against the action of said spring means, the said lever means being so arranged as to present a dead center condition when the parts are in the open position.

5. A deviceof the character described comprising a main body having a back portion, a bottom portion and sides; a cigarette container having a back portion and a transverse front portion connected by side members, the lower part of said container fitting closely within the said body; a main cover hinged to the lower edge of said body and having resilient means normally holding it in closed position; and an auxiliary cover pivoted to said container exteriorly thereof intermediate its ends, the said auxiliary cover having edges adapted to abut upon complementary edges upon the main body so as to limit the opening movement, and having manual gripping means upon its upper edge and lever means for moving the main cover into open position against the action of said resilient means.

PETER J. DESSELLE. 

